These are the DOD’s autonomous, 3-D printed dronesThey are called PerdixThe name comes from a Greek mythological character who was turned into a birdDuring testing in October, 103 of them were launched out of three F/A-18 Super Hornets in CaliforniaThe drones function as a swarm and are not individually pre-programmed Instead they talk to and adapt to each other’s movements like a collective organismOperators give them broad tasks, such as surveilling a field, and the drones figure out the best way to execute them The DoD wants to use the drones for low-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions Its goal is to produce 1,000 units this year